Summer Smoothie Guide

Smoothies are a quick and delicious way to boost your daily intake of fruits and vegetables. They’re especially refreshing for breakfast or as a snack during warm summer season (might be time to put away the hot oatmeal for a few months!). Plus, while it might be hard to get in your necessary dark leafy greens, throwing a handful of frozen spinach into a smoothie is a no-brainer, (We know the green color might be intimidating, but we promise that the fruit will mask this flavor).

At their core, smoothies are very simple. With countless recipes available, we understand it can be a tad intimidating choosing which kind best suits your needs. Should you add protein? How much fruit? Is sugar-packed orange juice really necessary to make THIS concoction drinkable?

Like the foundation of any healthy eating plan, incorporating smoothies into your routine starts with setting yourself up for success. This means having all the right tools and ingredients in your kitchen. Stocking up on the following items will set you up for smoothie success! Not to mention these ingredients are full of nutrients and low in calories!

Grocery List for Smoothie Success

Fruits & Veggies

Frozen blueberries

Frozen strawberries

Bananas

Lemons

Frozen chopped spinach or other dark leafy green (such as kale). You can buy bags of mixed leafy greens in the frozen vegetables section of your grocery store.

Protein

Almond or soy milk

Low fat plain greek yogurt

Although combining dairy and lemon may seem like an unusual mix, adding citrus really brightens the flavors of the berries. The almond milk and protein-packed yogurt help to create a creamy and satisfying consistency.

And don’t forget your dark leafy greens! Foods like kale and spinach are a great addition to any smoothie. They are packed with fiber, which aids in digestion and keeps you feeling full. And their benefits don’t stop there! These greens are also high in vitamins and minerals like Potassium, Iron, Vitamin K, and Vitamin B.

Check out one of our favorite summer smoothies below!

Summer Citrus Green Smoothie (247 calories):

Ingredients:

½ cup frozen blueberries

½ medium banana (peel and freeze the other half for next time)

1 cup frozen spinach

juice of ½ lemon

¾ cup (6oz) almond milk

½ cup (4oz) low fat plain greek yogurt

Instructions:

Pour liquids into the blender

Add the fruit (if you use fresh berries, make sure to add a few ice cubes to the blender to make the smoothie cold).

Whirr in the blender until the contents appear smooth, starting at a slower speed and working your way up to high-speed.

Pour into your favorite glass, and sip away

Feel invincible, tackle many summer chores (garage cleaning anyone?)

You might want to try other smoothie variations too, or edit for food intolerances and allergies. For instance, many people have dairy restrictions. If you’re restricting the dairy in your diet, you can use half an avocado. Plus, you’re getting a dosage of healthy fats, which some studies say may also contribute to lower cholesterol.

Try out some of the other fantastic green smoothie variations here and see what you like. Have you tried adding other vegetables to your smoothies? Let us know via Twitter or Facebook!